Elle WheatenÔÇÖs priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then thereÔÇÖs the muscular wall of stubbornness thatÔÇÖs security expert Archer HuntÔÇöwho comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. ÔÇ£Feels-Free ZoneÔÇØ that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .

ThereÔÇÖs no such thing as a little in lustÔÇª

ArcherÔÇÖs wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. But now that sheÔÇÖs earned happiness and success, Archer just wants Elle 24/7. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco Earthquake, and Archer doesnÔÇÖt want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who arenÔÇÖt him . . .

There is such a thing asÔÇª

As far as ArcherÔÇÖs concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets madÔÇöand things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all alongÔÇª

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes the next sexy, standalone novel in the Heartbreaker Bay seriesÔÇª

His hand caught her, long fingers wrapping around her elbow and causing all sorts of unwelcome sensations as he pulled her back around.

ÔÇ£What?ÔÇØ she asked.

ÔÇ£Waiting for my apology.ÔÇØ
ÔÇ£Sure,ÔÇØ she said agreeably. ÔÇ£When hell freezes over.ÔÇØ She lifted her chin, grateful for her four-inch heels so that she could almost, kind of, not quite look him in the eyes. ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm in charge of this building, Archer, which means IÔÇÖm in charge of everything that happens in it. IÔÇÖm also in charge of everyone who works for this building.ÔÇØ

He cocked his head, looking amused again. ÔÇ£You want to be the boss of me, Elle?ÔÇØ he asked softly.

I am the boss of you.ÔÇØ

Now he outright smiled and her breath caught. Damn, stupid, sexy smile. And then there was The Body. Yes, she thought of it in capital letters, it deserved the respect. ÔÇ£If you donÔÇÖt want to be walking funny tomorrow,ÔÇØ she said, ÔÇ£youÔÇÖll stop invading my personal-space bubble.ÔÇØ

Complete bravado and they both knew it. SheÔÇÖd only been at this job for a year and itÔÇÖd come as a surprise to her that heÔÇÖd been in the building at all. An unfortunate coincidence. Before that itÔÇÖd been years since theyÔÇÖd had any contact, but she still knew enough to get that no one got the better of him.

He was quick, light on his feet, and physically strong. But that wasnÔÇÖt what made him so dangerous to her. No, it was his sharp intelligence, his quick wit, how he was willing to go as dark as he needed to in order to do what he thought was right.

And then there was the biggieÔÇöthe way he had of making her feel shockingly alive.

He did as she asked and stepped back but not before pausing to make sure they both knew who was in control here, and it most definitely wasnÔÇÖt her.

No one did intimidation like Archer, and in his line of work he could be in a coma and still intimidate everyone in the room. He had muscles on top of muscles but didnÔÇÖt look beefed up like a body builder might. Instead his body seemed lean and seriously badass, with caramel skin that strayed from light to golden to mocha latte depending on what the season was, giving him a look of indeterminable origin.

And sexiness.

It worked for him, allowing him to fit in to just about any situation. Handy on the job, she imagined. But with her he was careful. Distant. And yet sheÔÇÖd seen the way he sometimes looked at her, and on the rare occasion when heÔÇÖd touched her, like when he guided her through a door with his hand low on her back, he let himself linger. There was always a shocking and baffling yearning beyond both the glances and the touches.

That, or it was all just wishful thinking.

Not that it mattered since he still held back with her. The problem was she yearned too. Yearned for him to see her as a woman, strong and capable enough to stand at his side.

But after what theyÔÇÖd been through, she knew that would never happen. She turned away, annoyed by how her entire body had gone on high alert as always, every inch of her seeming to hum beneath the surface.

About Jill Shalvis

Writes books. Also takes pics and naps. Oh and consumes cookies. I'm real good at that.

Also...New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family and far too many assorted quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold.

Visit Jill's website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

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